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Land Clearing Contractors in Washington, DC

Find land clearing contractors serving Washington, DC for brush clearing, lot clearing, tree and stump removal, forestry mulching and full site clearing. Compare local companies, check which services each one offers, and contact them directly about your project.

Land Clearing Contractors Serving Washington, DC

13 land clearing contractors serving Washington, DC confirm on their own websites that they offer land clearing (checked October 2026). Each listing links to the page where the company describes the service, so you can check it yourself.

Land Clearing Services in Washington, DC

ServiceBest for
Brush clearingOvergrown lots, fence lines, pasture recovery
Forestry mulchingBrush and small trees, with no debris to haul
Lot clearingMaking a residential lot buildable
Full clearing and grubbingRemoving trees, stumps and roots for construction
Selective clearingKeeping chosen trees on a wooded lot

How Much Do Land Clearing Contractors Charge in Washington, DC?

Angi reports an average land clearing project cost of $3,780 in 2026, and HomeGuide estimates $1,200 to $8,000 per acre. These measure different things: one is per project, the other per acre. Stump removal, debris haul-off and grading are often priced separately. No published source gives a reliable Washington, DC-specific average, so use these as national planning figures and get local quotes. See land clearing cost per acre for prices by vegetation, lot size and method.

Washington, DC Permits and Local Rules

In DC, removing any tree with a trunk circumference of 40 inches or more (measured at 4.5 feet) needs a Special or Heritage Tree permit, and disturbing more than 50 sq ft of soil needs a DOEE-reviewed erosion and sediment control plan.

RuleWhat it means for your projectSource
Special Tree removal permitIt is unlawful for anyone, including the DC government, to top, cut down, remove, girdle or destroy a Special Tree (circumference 40 to 100 inches at 4.5 feet) without a permit. A permit is issued if the tree is hazardous, is a species listed for removal, or the applicant pays at least $55 per inch of circumference into the Tree Fund; violations carry fines of at least $300 per inch.Source
Heritage Tree protectionHeritage Trees (circumference of 100 inches or more) may not be removed or damaged without a Heritage Tree removal permit. The permit must be issued if the tree is hazardous or a listed removal species, and may be issued if the applicant relocates the tree within DC; fines are at least $300 per inch of circumference.Source
Erosion and sediment control plan (DOEE)Building construction and redevelopment projects that disturb or move more than 50 sq ft of land need an erosion and sediment control plan reviewed by DOEE (and DOB). Projects under 5,000 sq ft that do not need stormwater management or Green Area Ratio review can use a streamlined minor ESC process.Source
Floodplain (Special Flood Hazard Area) permitsDevelopment in a Special Flood Hazard Area needs a building permit reviewed by DOB and DOEE under the Flood Hazard Rules. ‘Development’ includes any man-made change to land, including filling, grading and excavation.Source
Call 811 before diggingD.C. Code § 34-2704: the person excavating must notify the one-call center (Miss Utility) at least 96 hours, but no more than 10 days, before excavation begins, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays.Source
Construction stormwater permitEPA is the NPDES permitting authority for construction stormwater in the District of Columbia (EPA Construction General Permit, permit area DCR100000). EPA CGP coverage is generally required for sites disturbing one or more acres, or less if part of a common plan of development or sale that will ultimately disturb one or more acres. DC DOEE separately requires its own erosion and sediment control plan for much smaller disturbances (see city rules).Source
Burning cleared brush20 DCMR § 604.1: open fires are prohibited in DC except as allowed in § 604.2 (public officers’ duties, abating a fire hazard that cannot be abated otherwise, firefighter training, recreational/cooking fires on non-commercial premises, and approved heaters for workers). There is no exception for burning land-clearing debris.Source

Confirm requirements for your parcel with the city or county before work starts. See land clearing permits for a full checklist.

How to Choose a Land Clearing Contractor in Washington, DC

Walk the property with each bidder or send the same marked site plan. Ask what happens to stumps and roots, whether debris is hauled, burned or mulched, who checks tree, grading and stormwater permits, and what condition the site will be in when the crew leaves. Compare written quotes for the same scope, not headline prices.

For background before you call, read the land clearing guide, land clearing cost per acre and land clearing permits.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do land clearing contractors charge in Washington, DC?

Published national figures are the best guide: Angi reports a $3,780 average project and HomeGuide $1,200 to $8,000 per acre. No reliable Washington, DC-specific average is published, so compare written quotes for the same scope.

Do I need a permit for land clearing in Washington, DC?

Usually. In DC, disturbing more than 50 sq ft of soil for construction or redevelopment requires an erosion and sediment control plan reviewed by DOEE, and removing any tree 40 inches or more in circumference needs a Special or Heritage Tree permit. Grading or filling in a mapped flood hazard area needs a building permit reviewed under the Flood Hazard Rules, and sites of an acre or more also need EPA Construction General Permit coverage.

Does land clearing include stump removal?

Not always. Some contractors grind or pull stumps as part of the job, others price them separately, and forestry mulching usually leaves stumps at or near ground level. Make sure the written quote says what happens to stumps.

Can I burn cleared brush in Washington, DC?

20 DCMR § 604.1: open fires are prohibited in DC except as allowed in § 604.2 (public officers’ duties, abating a fire hazard that cannot be abated otherwise, firefighter training, recreational/cooking fires on non-commercial premises, and approved heaters for workers). There is no exception for burning land-clearing debris.

More Directories

Sources

Listings checked October 2026 against each company’s website. Prices are attributed national estimates, not Washington, DC quotes. Permit summaries are a starting point; confirm requirements for your parcel with the city or county.